Sveum, Epstein find comfort zone

Cubs manager Dale Sveum (left) and team president Theo Epstein expect the Cubs to have a greater comfort zone this season. (Brian Cassella / Chicago Tribune)

PITTSBURGH — Beginning his second year as Chicago Cubs manager on Monday, Dale Sveum said the comfort zone has greatly expanded for him and his players.

“Even the players who’ ve been here, it might be their third year or second year, everything gets so much more comfortable,” Sveum said. “For myself, I know what to expect when I get back to Chicago, the living (situation). I know the fans, the clubhouse, all the clubhouse people, everyone in the organization.

“Everything just gets a lot easier your second time around and obviously a lot further down the road. It gets easier for the players to understand the day games -- they’ve got another year under their belt. Obviously, the three days games in a row on Friday, Saturday and Sunday ... all that stuff is definitely easier. There is a comfort level that comes into play that makes things easier.”

And that goes for president Theo Epstein, who has made many personnel changes since last summer to put his own people in place.

“We’re in a much better position to fire on all cylinders with our scouting department set up to where we want it to be now, our player development,” Epstein said. “It’s night and day for us, just in terms of comfort level, just because of the leadership we brought in.

“Everyone is on the same page, there’s a really clear vision. We’re all working toward that common goal. Absolutely there is a much greater comfort level.”

Now the Cubs hope to translate that comfort zone into winning, starting with Monday’s opener against Pittsburgh at PNC Park.